As anticipation builds around Focus Features’ potential Oscar contender, *Conclave*, this weekend also sees the wide release of the thriller *Last Breath*, starring Woody Harrelson and Simu Liu. The film, which revolves around the harrowing experiences of deep-sea divers, made an impressive $1 million in advance ticket sales across 2,475 theaters. This marketing push hints at Focus Features’ commitment to making *Last Breath* a formidable force in the box office, especially considering the traction it has gained with critics, currently holding a commendable 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The expectations for the film suggest a weekend gross in the high single digits, which, while not blockbuster numbers, showcase a promising start given the competitive landscape.
In a commanding position, Disney/Marvel’s *Captain America: Brave New World* is projected to dominate the box office once again, likely collecting around $14 million as it gears up for its third consecutive weekend at number one. This superhero film, featuring Anthony Mackie, has already amassed a total of $148.6 million over two weeks, demonstrating its strong audience appeal. Notably, *Brave New World* appears to maintain its previous momentum, drawing $1.5 million just yesterday, a minor dip of only 4% from the previous Wednesday.
Other Rising Stars in the Box Office
In the midst of these releases, we also see NEON’s latest feature, *The Monkey*, directed by Oz Perkins, making significant waves after its first week. Adapted from a Stephen King short story, the film raked in $18.2 million across 3,200 locations, although it suffered an 8% drop from Wednesday to Thursday. Analysts anticipate that *The Monkey* could experience a substantial decline of over 60% in its second weekend, forecasting around $5.6 million; this correlates with Perkins’ previous work, *Longlegs*, which saw a similar trajectory with a less favorable Cinemascore.
Meanwhile, *Paddington in Peru*, from StudioCanal/Sony, quietly thrives with a cumulative total of $26.8 million in its second week, displaying stable performance in the studio’s lineup. With a decline of merely 1% from Wednesday to Thursday, the film appears to be edging ahead of its predecessor *Paddington 2* during the same timeframe, showing that family-friendly content continues to attract audiences.
Animation’s Robust Performance
DreamWorks Animation/Universal’s *Dog Man* also contributes to the lively weekend box office with $7 million in its fourth week, achieving a running total of $79.8 million. The film’s steady growth and an 8% increase from Thursday illustrate its ability to resonate with audiences. Additionally, the Chinese animated sequel *Ne Zha 2* reflects the growing trend of successful international films, accumulating $16.2 million by its second week and posting reasonable numbers compared to its competition.
Overall, this weekend’s box office tells a tale of resilience and adaptability, with studios like Focus Features and NEON investing in compelling narratives while established franchises like *Captain America* and family films continue to draw audiences in droves. The dynamics at play suggest that despite intense competition, there’s plenty of room for diverse storytelling to thrive in today’s cinematic landscape.